Autism-Europe

03/06/2026

Listen to Wiktor, an autistic man from Poland, talk about the difficulties he faces using public transport on his way to work and the impact the lack of accessibility has on him.

Visit our website for his full story. 🔗

03/06/2026

Why does the JobAut Project matter for autistic people?

We asked this question to our Belgian partner, Christian Takow, advocacy officer at Autism-Europe, an international organisation working to advance the rights and improve the quality of life of autistic people in Europe.

In his words, our coaching methodology is a 'game-changer' that can really make a difference for autistic people and help them decode the unspoken rules of the professional world.

Read more on our website! 🔗

31/05/2026

"Music is my "secret language", the most authentic way I have to express myself." Meet Christopher from Italy: An electro DJ who shares how his relationship with autism has changed over time: from being an obstacle and a central element of his daily life, to just another part of who he is.

Discover his story on our website!

26/05/2026

Autism-Europe extends its sincere condolences to everyone affected by the tragic collision between a train and a school bus transporting autistic children in Flanders, Belgium. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrible accident.

APEPA asbl Autisme Vlaanderen

Les secours sont intervenus ce mardi matin à Buggenhout après une collision entre un train et un bus scolaire. Dans ce dernier se trouvaient deux adultes...

18/05/2026

We were recently reunited with our members at our Annual General Assembly and Council of Administration in Budapest, Hungary. This event was hosted by Mars Alapítvány, our Hungarian member, and it meant a lot to gather in Hungary on Europe’s Day, during the new Prime Minister’s investiture and a renewed commitment to European cooperation.

On the first day, we looked back at our activities in 2025 and discussed Autism-Europe’s role in implementing the next stage of the EU strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities. Members shared updates about the work they are doing on the ground and their priorities for the year ahead. We also held elections for our Council of Administration and welcomed three new affiliated members: Agios Vasileios Stevros and Hellenic Association for Asperger Syndrome (ΕΛΣΣΑ), both from Greece, and Djeca Svetlosti from Bosnia and Herzegovina!

On the second day, Apnabi Autismo Bizkaia updated us on the progress of the Bilbao 2028 AE Congress, and Children with autism support foundation “Child With Future" shared how the funds raised for autistic people and their families last winter were used, along with letters of gratitude from the community that were really moving.

Over the weekend, we also visited Autistic Art Alapítvány, an art gallery by autistic artists, and discovered all the secrets of Hungarian cuisine at chefparade cooking school / főzőiskola!

A big thank you to Mars Alapítvány for making it all feel so welcoming and well thought-through, and to all our members for joining us in person and online, and for their work to advance the rights of autistic people across Europe.

Σύλλογος Γονέων & Φίλων Αυτιστικών Ατόμων Νομού Έβρου
Ελληνικός Σύλλογος για το Σύνδρομο Asperger
Djeca Svjetlosti

📷Julia Barna

15/05/2026

Today is International Day of Families!

Families are often the primary support network for autistic people, but this support often comes at a high cost. Autism-Europe calls for stronger investment in services, including access to education, employment, and adequate financial and social protection for carers. Families should not have to compensate for gaps in support systems.

Autistic people are also parents, partners, carers, and family members, yet their right to family life is not always fully recognised. Many autistic parents face stigma, a lack of understanding, and barriers to appropriate support.

That's why we're proud to be part of the BLUE HOUSES project, an Erasmus+ initiative promoting adequate support for autistic parents. Yesterday, the project was featured during a special edition of AE's Afternoon of Good Practice, where autistic mothers also shared their research and lived experiences.

📖 Read our full article on International Day of Families here: https://www.autismeurope.org/blog/2026/05/15/international-day-of-families-2026/
🎥 Watch the BLUE HOUSES video below!

13/05/2026

Policies about autistic people are still too often made without autistic people. That has to change.

We are drawing attention to the gap between political commitments and the meaningful involvement of autistic people in decisions that shape their lives.

Co-designing policies, implementing them and evaluating their impact together with autistic people and their organisations is a core obligation under the UN CRPD. Without it, systems are built on assumptions rather than lived experience.

We urge national and EU policymakers to ensure that autistic people and their representative organisations are genuinely involved at every stage, backed by transparent monitoring and disability-specific data collection.

Join our call and share your autism story!

10/05/2026

This weekend, we celebrate the re-election of our Council of administration member Pietro Cirrincione to the board. Pietro has also been elected to serve in the executive committee. “I warmly thank the members of EDF. I look forward to continuing to work together constructively. It is crucial to bring together our diverse perspectives to achieve our common goal for the full respect of the rights of persons with disabilities in Europe.”

10/05/2026

This weekend, we celebrate the re-election of our Council of administration member Pietro Cirrincione to the European Disability Forum board. Pietro has also been elected to serve in the executive committee. “I warmly thank the members of EDF. I look forward to continuing to work together constructively. It is crucial to bring together our diverse perspectives to achieve our common goal for the full respect of the rights of persons with disabilities in Europe.”

08/05/2026

Yesterday, Autism-Europe attended the High-Level Conference on “Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Empowerment and Support in a Community for All” hosted by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026 in Limassol.

A key message throughout the day was summed up well by the chairperson of the Cyprus Confederation of Disability Organisations, Themida Anthopoulou: “Supported decision-making is not optional, it is the bridge between rights on paper and rights in real life.” Discussions also reinforced that “the problem was never the person, it is the system.”

We were also pleased to meet with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Ireland, Norma Foley ahead of the Irish Presidency and look forward to further cooperation.